Bagging device



March 8, 1938. H. E. WEINSTEIN BAGGING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnverflor Herman E Wemsiein, y

His Adornsy.

H. E. WEINSTEIN BAGGING DEVICE arch 8, 193.

Filed Jan. 14, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 invenior Herman E.Weins1eir\, y

Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE BAGGING DEVICE Herman E. Weinstein,

Saratoga Springs, N. Y.,

York

Application January 14, 1937, Serial No. 120,544.

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a bagging device and is generally adapted for filling bags and the like with articles of produce, particularly those of irregular shape, such as potatoes, onions,

and the like.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive device, simple in construction, and having few operating parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be operated by a single operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device so constructed and arranged that the operator can perform the bagging operation speedily and efficiently while easily and positively controlling the rate of flow of the articles from the device into the bags being filled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device containing means therein to insure a continuous, unobstructed flow of the articles therein to the bags being filled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device so constructed and arranged that the operator can operate the same in a 25 comfortable operating position and. without undue fatigue.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

For a complete understanding of the inven- 30 tion reference is had to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the bagging device, Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of agitator.

The device comprises a hopper i of any con.- venient size and shape suitably supported at the proper height from the ground to enable an operator comfortably to operate the same. The hopper is mounted on a framework, indicated generally at 2, which is properly braced to give the necessary rigidity and support to the hopper when filled with the articles to be bagged. As shown in the drawings, the hopper is generally constructed so as to have side and rear walls which slope downwardly and terminate in a delivery spout or opening 3 under which the bags 4, to be filled, are to be placed. The bags are conveniently supported on a platform or scale 5 which may be adjusted so as to register a correctly predetermined weight of articles deposited in the bag.

The front wall of the hopper is provided with an opening 6 normally closed by a discharge door 1 which is mounted on said Wall, the door being vertically inclined from the front in its closed position. The door 'l is adapted to register the opening with the delivery spout 3, and is designed to regulate the flow of the articles from the hopper into the bags 4, to be filled. It is held in its normally closed position by means of a tension spring 8, one end of which is connected to the frame work as at 9, the other end of which is fixed as at Ill to a lever H which conmeets with a foot-pedal l2 designed to be operated by the operator of the bagging device. Lever II is also connected to rod I3 suitably fastened to the door 1 and journaled in bearings l4 and I5.

An agitator I6 is embodied in the rear inclined Wall of the hopper and is, in the preferred form of the invention, a plate suitably mounted so as to swing into the hopper. The agitator is designed to insure a continuous flow of the articles in the hopper toward the discharge door 7. This agitator is operated by the same foot-pedal l2 to which it is connected by means of lever l1 and rod I8, the latter being suitably journaled in bearings l9 and 20 mounted on the rear wall of the hopper. The operator thus controls with a single foot-operated pedal l2 both the flow of articles from the hopper i into the bags 4 to be filled, and the agitator l6, which provides for a positively continuous feed of the articles downwardly toward the delivery spout 3.

Instead of employing a swinging plate I6 to agitate the articles in the hopper and cause them to move toward the discharge door 1, other modifications may be employed. For example, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, a wheel 22 may be employed in place of the swinging plate. This Wheel may be suitably mounted in the framework 2 so that its periphery protrudes slightly within the hopper. A pawl and ratchet action through operation of the foot-pedal I2 and lever I1 imparts motion to the Wheel.

Immediately below the agitator Hi there is an opening 2! in the rear inclined wall of the hopper through which dirt or other debris which has been shaken down by the action of the agitator falls and may be collected in a suitable receptacle (not shown) before reaching the spout 3. Thus, the articles are delivered to the bags being filled substantially free from dirt.

The operation of the bagging device is substantially, as follows: the hopper having been filled with the articles to be bagged, the operator assumes a position in front of the device, places a bag on the scale or platform 5 under the spout 3, and depresses the foot-pedal l2. This acts simultaneously to open the discharge door I and raise the agitator Hi. This combined action causes the articles to flow downwardly within the hopper and to be delivered through the spout and into the bag. By reciprocating the footpedal I2 several times and at a fairly rapid rate the operator imparts a steady flow to the articles. Upon release of the foot-pedal by the operator the door is instantly returned to closed position by the spring 8.

Because of the fact that the operator can operate the device by a simple foot-pedal action his hands are left free to place the bags, to be filled, in position and to remove them without much trouble. Furthermore, the device is so constructed as to enable the operator to easily control the rate of flow of the articles being bagged, and by means of the single foot-pedal. action he can adjust the rate of delivery to the type of bags being filled, thus preventing bags being torn or thrown on the platform or scale. Again, the machine has very few moving parts and is simple in construction. There is, hence, practically no chance of its getting out of order and the operator can easily operate the same Without interruption due to breakage of parts.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A bagging device adapted for filling bags with articles of produce comprising a hopper for holding articles to be bagged, the walls of said hopper terminating in a spout under which a receiving bag is placed, a normally closed discharge door Vertically inclined from the front wall of said hopper, a hinge rod attached to said door and journaled in the front wall of said hopper, said rod operatively connecting with one end of a lever, the other end of the lever being connected to a foot-pedal, a spring attached at one end to the framework of said hopper above said discharge door and at its other end at the connecting point of said rod and said lever, said spring maintaining the discharge door in closed position against the weight of the articles to be bagged, an agitator pivoted to the rear wall of said hopper and connected to said foot-pedal, said foot-pedal being operable to swing the lower end of the discharge door open to form a discharge path to the spout for the articles being bagged. and simultaneously to operate said agitator to agitate the articles Within said hopper.

HERMAN E. WEINSTEIN. 

